F.A.D is a charity that has been helping budding designers in the transition from education to the fashion industry for a decade now by awarding the winner and two runners up with £2000 and £1000 and unique industry placements. Protégées go on to work in top fashion industry designer roles or set up their own label, testament to the importance of the work that F.A.D is doing.
This season fifteen finalists selected from colleges and universities across Britain presented two outfits inspired by ‘a physical or fictional place’ under the theme of ‘Escape’. The winner and runners up were selected on their responses to the brief by consulting sketchbooks and also by the outfits working as a mini collection. The show saw a colourful range of outfits encompassing an experimental mix of fabrics. From Lycra unitards with woven leather, drawstring dresses, to floor sweeping tassels, and even velour horns.
The winner was Milly Jackson from Nottingham Trent University for her impressively constructed monochrome dresses. Milly’s dresses were architectural in their form as stiff white fabric held dramatic shoulders and a large swing skirt with witty hints of black and white fabric. The results were pieces that were powerfully feminine and resembled an exotic beetle with a 1960s twist. Milly will be working with Whistles.
The first runner up was Laura Carew-Gibson who presented and striking black Mongolian lambs wool coat with bursts of orange and yellow feathers. Orange contrasted with blue and shredded fabric gave Laura’s designs a fun and festive feel. Laura received a placement with David Koma. The second runner up was Annie Vallis for her earthy menswear. Landscape printed shirts grounded with beige shorts, legging and plastic macs, made for a new breed of eco-warrior. Annie was placed with Jaeger menswear.
Words : Amy Lockwood
Images : Ezzidin Alwan